Four guilty of hijacking migrant workers’ bank accounts – The Guardian

‘Three men and a woman convicted of laundering criminally acquired money in Cambridgeshire after trial over offences relating to exploitation of workers.’

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The Guardian, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fifth of women harassed at work over pregnancy or flexible hours, report finds – The Guardian

‘Three-quarters of pregnant women and new mothers experience discrimination at work and one in nine lose their job as a result, government-commissioned research has found.’

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The Guardian, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hammond criticises judge for stripping diplomatic immunity from Saudi billionaire – The Guardian

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in appeals, diplomats, divorce, immunity, judges, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

‘Phillip Hammond, the foreign secretary, has taken the highly unusual step of criticising a high court judge’s decision to strip diplomatic immunity from a Saudi billionaire facing divorce proceedings from his estranged wife.’

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The Guardian, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Damages in Fatal Accidents Claims: Supreme Court decision as to proper basis for calculations of future loss – Henderson Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in accidents, appeals, asbestos, damages, industrial injuries, news, Supreme Court, trials by sally

‘In Knauer (Widower and Administrator of the Estate of Sally Ann Knaur) v Ministry of Justice [2016] UKSC 9, the Supreme Court has held that the correct date as at which to assess the multiplier when fixing damages for future loss in claims under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 should be the date of trial and not the date of death. In doing so it refused to follow two decisions of the House of Lords (Cookson v Knowles [1979] AC 556 and Graham v Dodds [1983] 1 WLR 808) pursuant to which the relevant date had been the date of death.’

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Henderson Chambers, February 2016

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Becky Parker murder: Matthew Smith jailed for life – BBC News

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in murder, news, pregnancy, sentencing by sally

‘The ex-boyfriend of a pregnant mother-of-two has been jailed for life for her murder.’

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BBC News, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EVENT: 25 Bedford Row – Symposium on the Investigatory Powers Bill 2015

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘The draft Investigatory Powers Bill 2015 currently working its way through the parliamentary process is wide-ranging and includes an extension of the powers of the security services in response to surveillance disclosures by the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. It also moves to strengthen the security services warranted powers for the bulk interception of the content of communications. It has been called a “snoopers charter”.’

Date: 22nd March 2016, 6.00-8.00pm

Location: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL

Charge: Free, booking required

More information can be found here.

Material Contribution and Williams – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in appeals, medical treatment, negligence, news, Privy Council by sally

‘On 25 January 2016 the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council handed down judgment in the case of Williams v The Bermuda Hospitals Board [2016] UKPC 4, the most recent reported decision regarding material contribution in clinical negligence cases. While not binding in domestic courts the case is highly persuasive authority.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 8th March 2016

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

EVENT: Fifth Annual Cambridge Journal of International and Comparative Law Conference

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘The editors of the Cambridge Journal of International and Comparative Law (CJICL) welcome delegates to the CJICL 5th Annual Conference to be held at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law on 8-9 April 2016. Keynote speeches will be delivered by Professor Muir Watt, of Sciences Po, and Judge Spielmann, formerly President of the European Court of Human Rights. The full draft programme can be found on our website at www.http://cjicl.org.uk.

The theme for the CJICL 5th Annual Conference is “Public and Private Power”. We are interested in doctrinal, theoretical, institutional and comparative perspectives from international, European and comparative law on the regulation of public and private power.

The conference will explore how the landscape of public and private power is changing, where new and important networks and partnerships between public and private power are emerging and where public power is co-opting or commissioning private power in larger projects. This interconnectivity can be seen at all levels, challenges traditional divisions between public and private, and raises new problems for regulation. ‘

Date: 8th-9th April 2016, 9.00am-6.00pm

Location: University of Cambridge – Faculty of Law – 10 West Road Cambridge CB3 9DZ GB

Charge: £90, Day tickets are also available to delegates who are only able to attend one day of the conference.

More information can be found here.

Planning inspector removes affordable housing obligations from s106 agreement – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in appeals, housing, news, planning, social services by sally

‘A planning inspector has removed the affordable homes obligations from an agreement between a developer and an Oxfordshire council after finding that they rendered the proposed development economically unviable.’
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OUT-LAW.com, 16th March 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed…A Cautionary Tale – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in contracts, duty of care, news, pro bono work by sally

‘It can be a common misconception that where services have been offered without charge then there will be no liability in the event that something goes wrong. This point was addressed in the recent case of Burgess and another v Lejonvarn [2016] EWHC 40 (TCC) and serves as a warning to all professionals offering free advice.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 4th March 2016

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Stevensdrake v Hunt and the indemnity principle – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in agreements, costs, fees, indemnities, law firms, news by sally

‘Having successfully obtained judgment for your client in a case where your firm of solicitors is acting under a conditional fee agreement (CFA), it is only natural that thoughts will turn to the firm’s own impending financial reward. But the terms of a CFA, negotiated at the outset of the case, can prove to be a barrier to their underlying commercial purpose: payment by result.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 17th March 2016

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

A laundrette by any other name smells less sweet – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in contracts, covenants, leases, news by sally

‘This Q&A deals with user clauses in commercial leases. What is permitted by a covenant permitting use solely as a laundrette? Does such a clause permit the provision of dry-cleaning services?’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 21st March 2016

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Traders win Court of Appeal battle over Shepherd’s Bush Market regeneration – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in appeals, compulsory purchase, local government, markets, news, planning by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has upheld a challenge brought by traders against a High Court ruling that the decision by former Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to confirm a compulsory purchase order for Shepherd’s Bush Market was lawful.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st March 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Holmcroft: Skilled person not amenable to judicial review – Henderson Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in banking, financial regulation, fraud, judicial review, negligence, news by sally

‘On 24 February 2016, in R (Holmcroft Properties Limited) -v- KPMG LLP and others, the Divisional Court dismissed Holmcroft’s judicial review challenge to the skilled person’s role in a mis-selling redress scheme. The skilled person, KPMG, had approved Barclays’ rejection of Holmcroft’s claims for consequential losses it claimed to have suffered as a result of the mis-sale. The court found that the skilled person was not amenable to judicial review and that, in any event, it had acted fairly.’

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Henderson Chambers, 3rd March 2016

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

What are the Legal Obligations on Sports Clubs Looking to Dismiss an Underperforming Manager? – Littleton Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in clubs, disciplinary procedures, employment, news, sport by sally

‘The performance of sports managers is a constant subject of discussion both in the media and amongst fans, with many holding strong views over whether an individual is properly performing in their role.’

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Littleton Chambers, 4th March 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Trainee Doctors and Whistleblowing – Littleton Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in appeals, doctors, employment tribunals, news, whistleblowers by sally

‘In the judgment of the EAT in Day-v-Health Education England & Ors [2016] UKEAT/0250/15/RN it has been held that doctors in training do not possess the requisite relationship to allow them to bring a whistleblowing claim against Health Education England (their training organiser)’

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Littleton Chambers, 9th March 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Firm sees off £100k CoA claim after admitting negligence – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in appeals, damages, law firms, negligence, news, rectification by sally

‘A law firm that admitted negligence has fought off a £100,000 claim after the court decided no harm was caused by its mistake.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 21st March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

A bolt out of the blue – another winning strike for delayed flight claimants – No. 5 Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in airlines, appeals, compensation, delay, news, regulations by sally

‘In January, there was yet another twist in the plot of the ever-developing law regarding delayed flights. This time it came from Her Honour Judge Melissa Clarke, sitting at Luton County Court, in the matter of Evans v Monarch Airlines.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 16th March 2016

Source: www.no5.com

Supreme Court judgment on vicarious liability: Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets plc [2016] UKSC 11 – Park Square Barristers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in appeals, assault, employment, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Is an employer vicariously liable for the errant conduct of an employee who attacks a customer? Yes, according to the Supreme Court in unanimously giving judgment for the appellant in the case of Mr A M Mohamud (in substitution for Mr A Mohamud (deceased) v WM Morrison Supermarkets plc [2016] UKSC 11, handed down today.’

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Park Square Barristers, 2nd March 2016

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

The Briggs Review – important changes proposed for conduct of litigation in the civil courts – Zenith Chambers

Posted March 22nd, 2016 in civil justice, news, reports by sally

‘On 12 January 2016, Lord Justice Briggs published his interim report which sets out a numberof provisional recommendations for the reform of the civil courts. Briggs LJ is now in the process of having meetings with those practitioners and other interested parties most likely to be affected, the first of which took place in Sheffield on Monday 14 March 2016.’

Full story

Zenith Chambers, 16th March 2016

Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk